Controller for electric motors.



F. L. SESSIONS'.

CONTROLLER POR ELECTRIC MOTORS. APPLICATION FILED DB0. 2, 1903. RBNBWED JAN. 31, 190e.

F. L. SESSIONS.

CONTROLLER POR ELECTRIC MOTORS.

APPLICATION FILED DEO. 2, 1903. RIEWED J'AN'.31,` 1908.

Patented sept.. 14,1909.

' 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

P. L. SESSIONS.

l CONTROLLER FOR ELECTRIC MOTORS. APPLIQATION FILED DBG. 2, 1903. RBNEWED JAN. 31, 190e.

Patented Sept. 14, 1909.

, l rwento atmwu Patented Sept. 14, 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4,r

i F. L. SESSIONS'.

CONTROLLER FOR ELECTRIC MOTORS. APPLICATION 'FILED DEUJZ., 1903. EENEWED JAN.`31, 190B.

EWI

629i himno l. Figs. o blow out 7 coil 'and ma net.

UNITEDsTATEs PATENT oieFrcn-.-

`FRANK L. SESSIONS,` oF COLUMBUS, oHIo, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, To

THE JEFFREY'MANUFACTURING COMPANY. A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

CoN'rRoLLEn Fon ELECTRIC MOTORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Appaicanon'med December 2, 1903, serial No. 183,492. 'Renewed Januaryal, 190s. serial N. 1,113,649.

To all (whom concer'nl y Be it known that I, FRANNL. SESSIONS, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Co lumbus, in the 'county of Franklin and `State of 0h10, have invented certain new andI useful Improvements in Controllers for Electric Motors of which the following is a specificaI tion, reference being had therein to the acverse Section on the line 3-3 Fig. l. Fig. et

is a transverse section on the `line lf-L Fig.

and 6 are detailvievvs vof `the Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the switc ,ing shaftfor the controller. vFigs.-8 to 13 show details.

The principal operative parts ofthe mech-v anism are inclosed Withina box or casing.

This is made with a back plate orf base plate l, a front end or top Wall-5, a back end or bottom Wall 6, yand a shell like cover 7 havingside Wallsand av frontV wall, as shown, the latter being detachably'fastened tothe base. and the end Walls. Preferably the base and end Walls are fori-ned ofcastings and the shell or cover is formed ofj'sheet. iron, fitted in recesses and against .lianges or Webs formed on the'castln'gs. The interior of, this' v `or resistance. ln the compartment 9 are arranged the series-parallel devices, that is to say, those -whlclll are utrhzed for placing the motor-sin series relationtoeach other, or

' in parallel relationY for purposes novv well from' each other.

I placed the devices which are used forrevers- `ing the direction of the current with respect `tothe ditcrcntparts of the niotors'soas to compel a reversal of rotation of the armatures with a corresponding `reversal 'of the direction of. travel of the vehicle. V

'.lhe base or back Tall 1 of the structure is formed preferably With elongated slots or openings, as shown at 2, 3, and t, these periateneea sept. 1 4., 1909.

mitting the ready attachment Aof lthe terminals or, binding devices by which the conductor wlres are connected up.

Referring tothe partsin the compartment 8, ll .indicates as an entirety a sectional shaft. lt has four shaft sections 12, 13, 14, and l5. These several sect-ionsare insulated through and has a bearing at 16 in the end Wall o, its outer end beingsecured to the hand Wheel' 17 and its inner end being secured to the hub 1S of the disk 19.` The nextsection of the lshaft 13 has at its upper end a disk 201Which is rigidly fastened to the ving disk 2S and insulated bolts at'29. The

The section 12 projects end section t5 isf'nu'iuuted in a bearing 30 in y that at 3T. vThese cams are for the purpose of forcing a set of movable contacts respectively toward a correspomlilig set of station-k ary7 contacts.

'lhe parts last referred to aremoimted and constructed as follows. piece off insulating material such' as` sla-te which is secured jto the interior surface of 'lhc operative edge portion ofeach cam 3S indicates a base` The shaft s'ecthe-base wall l. 35) indicatesone of a series l base 3S..

ofcontaets which are secured vto the inner i Vface .of this base 38. 4() represents a contact and conducting plate secured Ato the saine base 3S. .but nearer the edge opposite to that which carries .the contacts 39.

4l isa con- `tact-. or coijulucting plate similar to that at 4t), bijt somewhat"longer and secured along the saine edgel ofthe insulating base 3S. 42

is a 4hinge block secured to the face of the l plate 41,- this block'being lsituatedinv the saine planes transverse toiithe shaftll with -the cani 31. And there are similarly hinged blocks secured to the plate 42 opposite to each ofstheother cams 3 2 to 3T inclusive.

43 represents one'of a series of'brushes. 1

rl`here is a brush for each of the cainsl to lanxinac of copper or similar material. Itis V-shaped in forni and the copper' platesiare clamped together vbetween spring plates 44,

45. The brush holder or thepart which supports the copper plates is indicated by 46. It is a casting with aconcave socket or recess at 47 which conforms to the shape of vthe brush 43. The brusl'n proper, is seated Ain the concave part of the Yholder andis bearing for the headbf the bolt 48.

by the pivot at 52.

The brushholder 46 is pivotally connected to a. swinging arm 50. This-is pivoted tothe aforesaid hinge block 42 by a hingeat.

It is connected to the brush holder 46 The arm or carrier 50 is bifurcated or slotted to provide a passage therethrough for the brush holder '46 which extends through it and projects toward the shaft 11. The end of thearn1 or carrierv50 has av laterally extending part 53 which bears against or lies closevto one ofiy the surfaces of the brush holding block' 46. The springplate 45 is turned backward, as shown at 54, lso as to prov-ide meansifor pressing against the arm 50 and assisting in causing it to swing backward when freed from its or equivalent. which is .secured tothe brush holding block 46 and extends laterally therefrom. Aft its ends, it is provided With a hinge plate 56 which is pivotally connected to an4 oppor-:ine` hinge plate 57. The latter has secured to ita contact block of carbon 59 which is secured to the above-described contar-t plate 39. These blocks of carbon 58 rnd-59' can seliarate when t-he movable one at'f {srelreyedbf pressure. At-60fthere 1s a coll sp'rn'lg having its outer end ,seated 1n a socket Gif supported 1n the insulating )pposed to this carbon there is one at- 37. Each brush is built up ofV a series of i `,upon the brush 43 and acts to force the'bru.'l

' hon block being rigidly-secured to both.

block') ythe pressure uponthe hrushfsl'io yof the carbon bloclisatSfand `59 *and `the separate atja time vafter *thev separationlof are used in' conjunction with onefof the Canis say that at 31'.

'the section 14 of the shaft `11.

Thev inner end of the springyOyV j .bears against the brushv holder 46. n iwfh'ena. i fi the spring is free in 4itsaetioirit-pushesthe E. 'il-shaped brushaway.froin-the'contaetipla'teslp-,` sa and u. l i *A e i 62 'is a roller mounted inthe brush.cls ing lio. lt lies in the path of rotation y the cani -ll VWhen] the cani'isiotatedfit bears uponthe roller andthroughtheflattei y exerts a'vliressure upon the-brushblockjiand f into contact ,with the plates 39 and`-4l-i `:At 63 there isla flexible conduct-ing plate'which extends from the brush block 46 to thefcarlf `at any tiine when current :is passing. y filoni the contact plate 39 tothebr'u'sh 4310i' rice versa- -twhich will occur lwhen the is engaging,r with the roller 62y andthebr be.l released by' proper turning" of thecl'ani the spring at (5t) will act toforce the loruslr awayfroin Lthe contacts 39 and "41 and tori, break the circuitat those points'.y Butjibe ji cause of the construction ,and arrangement parts connected therewithpthe ,lattervvill the `copperbrush from its contacts so' that the final break `in the'circuit is at'V \tlie'.'su`1 y facesl of the carbon. y 1 i I- lmveabove desciibedlthe lcopper bruslnfr l the contacts, the carbon blocks, and the de# fifi. i

vices which support and .carrythe1n, whichI 7 It will now be runderstood that a set of 'substantially,similar parts. 'is' combinedwithl each of the canis32` toy3i inclusive. these being the ycams 'Which`.';a' aforesaid, are connected to and.''carriedy y I- now call "attentionfto the fact' that'jtlt section 13 of the shaft .HJ-also carriestvv cams, a11d'64ac. These are substantially` l similar to each. other in` construction and'lin the length of, their operativefperipheral: edges.k With each of these cainsthereis prvided a copper brush, lpair of 'carbon blocks, land 'a set of supporting and` cai i. ving` parts similar to those above described `in f connection with the camv 3l. Forfconvenl i ience', VI indicate -e'ach ,copper brush' here f as` l43,.each brush holderA as 46',ieaclrdiinged" arin as 50,.the carbon blocks ofy eachpat` as 58and 59', and th'erolle'rs forthecains by 62'.,v The contact. plates for: t'l'iependsfof,` the copper brush are shown 11h39( andw40l. It will be seen that if the shaft/11 is tngi'nedl by the hand Wheel 17 the can1s64 and"` 64?? will, firstengage with their rollers62and`1 will cause their brush holders 36"` andfthei' swinging` 'arnis -50 to force'fthe copper brusl 43 againstthe contact plates 39fand40,4 and that immediately thereafter the camglj 1 will engage with its roller-62 and?conip'eli 130 ef', I ai posed in the pathof thegcurrent. .It will also be seen that uponafreversal of the neighboring metal parts.

i 68' isa shaft mounted in .rotation of the shaft` 11in the opposite direction the elements ofthe resist-ance are successively brought into gcircuitiunt-il .the whole is again introduced andtliat shortly after thisoccursthe cams 64 and64fa are released t'i-oin their rollers. and brush holders and the .springs break the circuit, first breaking it through the copper and then at. the surface g 'one edgeV a series of brus ofthe carbon blocks.'

The. .construction `and arrangement@ f a clamped copper plates 83 so situated that parts, that I have describedcompel thejormationY between the surfaces of the Qarbon blocks of whatever arc is produced bythe breaking of the circuit,"and,4 as there are two copperV brushes 'and two` pai'rsfof carbon "blocks, whatever arc is caused Willbe divided between the pairs of carbon blocks.-

In order to lprovide a blow out l, I employ a magnet. having the coil `65 and the pecul-f iarly shaped pole pieces (i6-66. The latt ter are inthe forni of plates. v

AThe 'positive pole 66 hes bon blocks Iare drawn away from the stationa'ry ones.' Eachv of these pairs of contact carbons has insulating walls, as shown at 67, which prevent tlie-current from Jumping to of brushes and contacts which are opposite, respectively to the cams 31- to 37 are -aiso inclosed in insulated chambers. `These are provided by means ot' the 'aforesaid vertical insulating wall or diaphragm "9* and a series of horizontally arranged insulating partitions 127. One of thelatter is arranged above 'the series ot brushes and one bel-ow the series. and'one is alsol placed between each pair of contacts andthe next adjacent one. O V

Asi* aforesaid, in the' compartment l() of the box are.placedwtheparts by'which thereversing of the current through the motors and the reversal `of the rotation `of the arma.- ture are effected. i

` in the end wall 5 of the boxand in a bearing "angular connectors 84by which .tlie con-v ductor wire isr secured in place and electricbetween the upper-two pairs of carbon blocks, and the The lower series contacts.

vthose 'directly adjacent.

bearing at 69` central .part square. To it are attached a series bf contact segments 71. Each contact is cast or formed with aA square socket piece 72 whichis preferably split at 73 andforined with ears 74, one of which is threaded tlo receive a clamping bolt 7 5 by which the parts of the squarevhub can be drawn together and tightly clamped to the shaft .68. l y 76 indicates sections of insulating material which are `placed around the shaft 6 8 and between it andthe hubs 72 of the contacts. The contacts are separated from each other vertically by insulating. disks 77 and insulators at 78, `79, at the top and bottom of the 81 is yai'iinsulating base'piece of slate or `the llikewhich` is boltedt'o the base Wall 1 of the box. To this there are secured along n contact devices. Each has a stem 82. To the end of each are one of `the-movable segments orbrushe's 71 can inove through the space between the plates`83 of the pair. The stem 82` projects extending part has secured to it. one Vof the ally connected with'the stein and the contact 'plates 83.

` Along one edge ofthe insulating lbase, plate Slthere are arranged a second series of contacts. Each has a standard 85 'and at the outer end of the standard there are contact plates '86. These contacts are electric-` ally connected by ineansot connectors 87, 87. These are preferably castings of'U- tightly yin vplace linderthe foot piecesof the -Vcolitactlstandards 85. These connectors electrically join alternate contacts, those :1h87 for instance connecting' the tii'st `and third,

the fifth and seventh. and so on. while those at 87 connect the second and fourth, the

through the `base plate 81 and theoutward y shape adapted to have their `legs bolted sixth and eighth, etc. Along the other edge ofthe base 81 there is 'arranged a series of Each of these has a contact standard 88 with a pair ot contact plates 89 adapted to receive between' them oneot' the segments or' brushes 7l.` These left hand contacts, however. are electrically 'coupled up in a ditfercnt manner from that"above described, each lwingconnected to one'ot' For connecting them metallic plates ElOare iised,'each plate lying under and being clamped b v two ot' the standards 88.` Contact 1 i's thus connected electrically withgcontactQ; 3 with vJr. -5- with 6, and so on througlithe series.

The wires which are secured tol the! terin'inals or binding devi/ces atI 81C `aresoarranged that when the shaft 68 is turned to' This shaft is rovided with a series of .seg-

A into contact with the plates 83 and the plates bring the brushes or segments 71 intol con- I tact with the plates 83 and the plates 86, the' current passes to the motor in such Way as to cause a forward rotation -of the armature;

v and when the shaft 68 is turned one lquarter of the way around to bring the brushes 71 89, current will be taken through such paths as will cause the armature to rotate in the oppositedirection in consequence.

91 is a hand lever secured to the shaft 68 for turning it vfrom one of its positions to the other. l

' In the apartment 9, as above stated, are arranged the devices byfwhich current is directed to the motors in such way as to have them connected either in series or in parallel.

92 is a shaftmounted at its upper end in a bearing 93 in one end wall of the box and at. 94 it is mounted in the opposite wall.

y ments' or brus es 95. The shaft is square and provided with layers of insulating material 96 against which the square hubs of the brushes 95 are clam ed. 4The brushes or [segments have electrica connection, respec- .i tively, with a series of contacts, each formed with a stem 97 and with a base .98. These are passed through an insulating base piece 99.secured to the wall of the box. Along one edge of this piece there are arranged a series of contacts somewhat similar to those above-described at 88, 89 and 90, they each havinga standard 100 and contact plates 101.

` ments or brushes 95'into contact with 'the plates at 98 and those at 103, the motorsvare :When the shaft is turnedso that the segments 95 are brought into contact with the Along the opposite edge of this insulatin piece 99 another series of contacts are place each having a standard 102 afnd. a pair of'.

contact plates 103. The contacts at 98 extend outward and have secured to their stems the binding tubes 104 by which the conductor wires are attached. When the shaft 92 is turnedin such way as to bring segput into parallel relation with each other.

' plates at 101, the current is so directed asto connect the motors in series.

I combine with the shaft, abovedescribed, devices'which revent either the one at 68 or the one at 92 rom being movable except at times when the switchingshaft11 is in its off osition. Thefshaft 68 has a disk 108 secure to it near its 'outer end. The disk 19 on the shaft 11 has two flanged edges 109 and 120, the inner one y'109 bein provided lwith a notch or recess -1'10. The isk 108 on the shaft 68 has two recesses 111 and 112. 113is'a locking pin mounted in bearings'114 l and-T115 supported from theend wall. 5 of the box.

116 is a roller in the end of the locking pin or bolt adapted to ride upon the vedge of the peri heral flange of the disk 19l and also adap to seatitself in the cavityT or notch 110. A sprin 117 bears against the squared end on the loc ing pin in such a way as to tend to 'force it toward ythe disk 19.

When the switching shaft is so turned as to cut the current off, notch' 110 comes to the line of the lock bolt and the spring 117 forces the end of the bolt or roller 1 161nto the recess. When the locking pin 1s in this posi Y' tion the disk 108 is free andthe shaft 68 'can be rotated, the operator being permitted to put the reverse lever in the desired position.y

When he has set the reversing shaft, he can turn the switchin shaft by the hand wheel,l inasmuch asthe ockin'g pin can bemoved" .f

longitudinally if the disk 19 be turned by the hand wheel, which will force the roller out of f the-recess, driving lthe pin into disk 108. As

long as the shaft 11 is 1n any position which y' l permits current to travel, it lwill be impos.

sible to turn the reversing mechanism.l` And,

on theother hand, until the reversing mechanism has been put in one or the'other of` its f extreme'positions, the disk 108 will not er- 'mit theturning of the switching shaft. series parallel shaft 92 is similarly locked as to the switching sha ft. 1 18 is a disk secured to the shaft 92 and having two locking sock-` ets 119. The disk 19 has in its flange 120 al 'recess or notch 121.l 122 is a lockl bolt or pin mounted in bearings 123, 124. This is` 'provided with a roller 125 adapted toride on the periphery ofi-lange 120. or seat itself in a socket 121. against the square part of the lock bolt and tendin to force it toward the disk 109. l

It w1llbe seen that it will not be possible 126 is a spring bearingto turn -the shaft-"92 until the notch 121 is in line with the lock pin 122, at which time the spring will force thepin out from the disk 128 is a disk or flange situated `near -and vIn order to insure that the electrical con# tact between the brushes carried by the contact holders 46, 46 and the stationary contacts with which they engage will positively be broken when the loperative surfaces of the cams on the switching shaft 11 are out of lsecured to the end section 15 of the shaft 11. j`

contact with their respective rollers 62, 62

on4 the brush holders, I provide each brush holder at its upper end with a laterally pro- ,jecting arm 135. At their inner ends these arms 135 carry anti-friction rollers 136 which are adapted to engage with the inner surfaces of the rims 137 of their respective contact cams. With this construction it will' be seen that evenshould the springs 60 become inoperative, the engagements of the l ho ders and to move it so as `to cause its conlmovable contacts, theseries of 'cooperating causing the contacts .ofeach of the pairsto 4contacts, a series ot' movable contacts, ase-f a series of rotary devices each arrangedto lthe combination of a series `of stationary ing contacts, the swinging arms, the .contact 40 cfor separating the contacts,'sub,stantial1y as.

- thecombination voit the seri of 'stationary .series of cams engaging with said holders to rollers 135 with the innerl surfaces l137 of the i cams will cause the breaking of the electrical l contact controlled by each cam as it is-rotated into its off position. Thi's'arrangement of the parts insuresV a positive separation of the brushes' in the event of the fail are of any of the springs-60 to force their brush `holders upwardly as Vtheir 'res ective cams. are turned into their olf positlons.

ll'liat l claim is 1. ln acontroller for electrical apparatus, tbc c i1iliiimtion of a series of stationary ries of rocking holders for said contacts, a series of swinging arms to which said holders are pivotally connected, and a series of4 rotaryY devices-each. arranged to engage di rcctly with oneofsaid rocking holders and to foi-re the contact carried thereby into en- `gagcment with its coperating stationaryA rontacts. l'

2. In a controller for electrical apparatus, thc combination of la series of pairs of stationary contacts, a series ofpairs of coperatngmovable'contacts, a series of rockingcontact holders, each adapted to carry one pair of said movable contacts, a series of swinging arms to each of whichone of said contact holders is pivotally connected,A and en age directly with one of said contactv tacts to engage with the` cooperating pairv of stationary contacts 3. In a controller for electrical apparatus,

contacts, a'series of'151on-rotary`f4 reciprocatholders pivtally connected to\said swin'ging arms, means for successlvely moving the reciprocating contacts into electric connection with the stationary contacts,fandv the set forth. 4

4. In a .controller for electrical apparatus, the COIlblIlatioll` offthe series of -pairsofz pairs of stationary'contactameans for nor-l mallylseparatingthe contacts ofeach of said pairs, and manually-controlled devices -for become electrically connected alid also forv positively disconnecting them, Asubstantial]y.` as set forth.v

5. Ina controller for electrical apparatus,

contacts, the. series .offinovablel contacts, the swingiligqholders forfth'e movable contacts', theseries of cams foroperating said swinging holders to cause-the successive engagement ofthe coperating contacts, and the effect the positive separation' of the coperating contacts.. v

. In a; controller for electrical apparatus, the combination of the seriesl of stationaryv contacts, the series of movable contacts, the series of double faced cams, the two cam-k engaging elements carried by each vmovable contact,"each adapted to engage with one of 'the faces of said cams, one of said faces be4` series of doubled'aced cams coperating with vthe said cam-engagnm elements of the said movable contacts. g5

Si. In a controller t'orelectrical apparatus,

Vthe combination ot' a series of stationary contacts, aseries of col'ierating' movable contacts, means for positively moving cac-l1 'of said movable contacts sl'iccessively into 90 'operativeengagement with its cooperative stationarycontacn a series of springs 'each arranged to force the contacts ot' each of said coperatlng'pairs ot' contacts out of engagement with each other, and means for` 95 positively moving the' contacts of each of said pairs of contacts out of engagement witlieach other;

9. In a controller for electrical apparatus, the'coinbination vofga series* of stationary 100 contacts, a series of movable contacts, a series ofconta'c-t holders for the movable lcontacts, means. for ,positively engaging said contact `holders and movingfthem so :as Vto effect the successive engagement of the pairsV of coperating contacts, and the lseries" of springs, each arranged `to engage with one" of saidcontactholders and to normally holdY it with its contactmember out of engagement with the cooperating stationary con-- 110 tact.

' 10. In a controller for electrical apparatus,

thev combination 'of a series of stationary contacts, a series of'movable contacts, a series of swinging contact holders forl the movable contacts, means forpositively engaging said contact-holders and moving `them so. asto effectv the successive engagelnent vofthe pairs of coperating contacts, and the series' of springs, each 4arranged t0 engagewith one of.i 120 l said Contact holders,- andl to normally hold it with its contact member out 'of engagement with the coperating stationary contact. i

11. Ina controller for electrical apparatus,

`the combination ,o fa series of stationarv contacts, a seriesof movable contactholders, a series of' airs 'oi movable .contacts carried bysaidho ders, and.onecontact ofeach pair being yieldingly-connected to itsres ective vholder, and merms kfor successively- `orcing 13'0 the pairs of'suid movable. Contacts into engagement' with their copeiating pairs of lstationary `contief 1Q. l-n a controller for electrical apparatus, ',/tlie combination of a series of stationary conv k tmts, a sei-ies oi' movable Contact holders, :1 pair 1o1 spring plates carried by each of said holders. and :1 movable contaef element. ,we-

cured between the plates of each-.pair of said spring plates.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK L. SESSIONS.

. Witnesses:

' C. E. WALBoRN,

L. E. HAMILTON. 

